Main Campus OR NonLicensed Orientation Modules - 2026

Perioperative Services

Safety in the OR - Main Campus Non-Licensed Orientation Modules

Non-Licensed OR - 2026

Objectives

• Understand the importance of correct surgical attire in protecting both the patient and themselves
• Describe the correct steps to perform surgical counts and the actions to take if the counts are incorrect
• Describe the correct methods of administering medications to the sterile field

• Understand the principles of sterile field maintenance and how to create and manage a sterile field.
• Demonstrate the correct techniques for handling and using sharps to minimize the risk of injury.
• Understand the importance of reporting sharps injuries promptly and the steps involved in the post-exposure follow-up process.

Surgical Attire and Surgical Traffic Zones

Surgical Attire

Each employee going into the OR will:

• Be assigned two sets of scrubs and 1 jacket.
• Wear their own clothes to work
• Change into their scrubs before going into the OR
• Change back into their clothes before going home

Surgical Attire

Surgical Attire

What If I Have a Team Jacket?

Surgical Zones

Surgical Attire

Sharp Safety in the OR

Sharps Safety

Sharps Safety

One-Handed Scoop Method

Sharps Safety

Positioning the Patient in the OR

Positioning

Surgical Counts

Surgical Counts

Surgical Counts

Surgical Counts

Surgical Count Sheet

Click here for the anatomy of our count sheet!

Surgical Counts

Surgical Count Sheets

Surgical Counts

Note: If the item is found, the circulator nurse and the scrub personnel must perform a recount of the item that was missing to reconcile the total.

Surgical Counts

Surgical Counts

Medication Administration

Medications and Solutions

Medications and Solutions

Medications and Solutions

Return of Unused Medications

Scrubbing and Sterility Principles

Surgical Hand Scrubs

Products Available at VUH:

Note: If you are allergic to these products, you will need to go to Occupational Health for alternative products and documentation of your allergy.

Surgical Hand Scrub

OR Enviroment

Temperature & Humidity

References

AORN Guidelines

VUMC Policy : Dress Code in the Perioperative Setting

VUMC Policy: Counts: Sharps, Sponges, and Instruments

VUMC Policy: Medication Labeling: Outside of Pharmacy

VUMC Policy: Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan

Anatomy of the Count Sheet

• Added amount is written in the top-left​
• New total of the item is written at the lower-right​
• Initials of who added the item are written at the bottom

Team jackets can be worn if slick-shelled and concealed by a hospital-issued, hospital-laundered jacket.

One-Handed Scoop Method